Rail-joint



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M. PRICE.

RAIL JOINT.

No. 392,569. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. M, PRICE.

RAIL JOINT.

No; 392,669. Patented Nov. 6 1888..

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JAMES M. PRICE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 392,569, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed January 25, 1888. Serial No. 261,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Moms M. PRICE, :1 citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvementin Rail- Joints, 'of which improvement the following is a specification.

The invention herein relates to certain improvements in rail-joints of that class or kind known as the continuous tread, wherein the ends of adjacent rails are so overlapped that the wheels are partially supported by one rail before passing entirely off from the preceding. In such a construction of joint it is necessary that the two parts or members thereof should be locked together as against independent movement in both horizontal and vertical directions.

The object of the invention herein is to provide such locking devices as will effectual] y secure theparts or members of the joint together without weakening the structural integrity of said members singly or collectively.

In general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination of mechanical devices, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the ac companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan or top View of a railroad-joint embodying my invention, the flange of the rail gradually widening at the middle in each half of the joint. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section thereof in line x 00, Fig. 5. Fig. 3is a View of the inner face of one of the rails. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modification thereof. Fig. 5 isa vertical section in line a .2, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an underside View ofthej oint,showing the clamps tied together.

In the practice of my invention the ends of the rails A. are preferably constructed in accordance with the construction set forth in Letters Patent No. 294,245, granted February 26, 1884, to Francis Lightfoot-i. 6., the ends of the rails are swaged or pressed aside,for1ning tongues B, whose inner faces coincide, or approximately so, with the longitudinal axis of the rails, whereby when the tongues of adjacent rails are placed together they form a tread of a width corresponding to the normal width of rail-treads.

On the inner faces of the tongues 13 of each of the rails are formed broad and flat ribs or projections O and grooves D, of corresponding shape, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the rails, and are located at or about the center of the inner faces of the tongues of the rails, their disposition being such that the rib or projection of one rail enters the groove of the opposite rail, it being noticed that the grooves are of greater length than the ribs or projections, whereby the latter are permitted to play in the former during the expansion and contractionof the rails. The wall of each groove joins the adjacent rib or tongue, and each tongue of the rail has one rib or projection and a groove; but the number of the same may be increased as desired.

It will be seen that the ribs or projections and grooves are preferably equidistant,or approximately so, from the top and bottom or heads and bases of the tongues 13 of the rails, and occupy the centers of said ends, thus avoiding material reduction of the strength of the rails. The engagement of the ribs or projections and grooves upon the contiguous rail ends prevents the possibility of vertical motion in either rail upon the other, and the concussion or pounding incident to the ordinary forms of rail-joints is effectually avoided. It will also be seen that when the rails expand the outer ends of the ribs or projections firmly abut against the Walls of the inner ends of the grooves, and when the rails contract the inner ends of the ribs or projections firmly abut against each other, thus limiting the degree of expansion and contraction of the rails and preventing creeping of the rails to any material extent, whereby a reliable, safe, strong, and durable rail-joint is pro duced.

In Fig. 4 I show the rib or projection and groove of each rail separated by a wall, D, which is flush with the metal not occupied by the rib or projection and groove, and contains the opening for the passage of the securingbolt when the latter is desired. In either case the rib or projection and groove are broad, fiat, and rectangular.

In order to couple the ends of the rails and prevent lateral separation thereof, I employ clamps E, which embrace the sides and bases of the rails and tightly bind the same together,

the number of said clamps being according to requirements. The clamps may be made of any desired shape in cross-section, but are preferably made parabolic in external contour, such shape giving the greatest strength in the directions in which the greatest strain is exerted.

The flanges along the tongues 13 gradually widen from the ends to the center, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus imparting a doublewedgc character to the flanges of the joint when put together. The clamps are placed on the rails before the tongues are arranged in position, and are then forced along the flanges toward each other and the center of the joint, thereby clamping the tongues tightly together. These clamps are held together as against longitudinal displacement by a tie strap or rod, F, passing between the clamps and the under side of the tongues and having its ends bent down around the clamp, as shown in Fig. 6; or, if preferred, holes may be bored through the clamps, and bolts passing through said holes may be used for tying the clamps in position;,

or, in lieu of either of the above means for holding the clamps in position, the cross-ties on each side of the joint may be so placed as to prevent any material displacement of the clamps.

The rails will be supported upon and spiked 'to cross-ties, as usual, and as they are held laterally by the clamps E and interlocked and held vertically by the ribs or projections and grooves G 1) their disconnection in lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions is thus prevented.

The ribs or projections are made broad and flat, so as to avoid diminution of strength of the web of the rail, it being noticed that said web is of greatly-increased thickness, owing to the construction of the joint.

In lieu of widening the flanges of the tongues B, as above described, they may be thickened at the middle, said thickness gradually tapering or lessening toward the ends of the tongues; 01', in lieu of either of these. constructions,

wedge or inclined faces may be formed on the outer faces of the webs of the tongues 13, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In using either of these modifications, the edges of the flanges of the tongues should be made parallel, and the distance between the jaws of the clamps where they engage said edges should be such that said jaws bear upon said edges when the clamps have been driven to place. In lieu of either of the arrangements of tierods shown in Fig.6, I may employ that shown in Fig. 1, said form or arrangement being preferable in some cases as permitting easier access to the tie-rods.

I claim herein as my invention 1. A railroad-rail joint consisting of rails having overlapping tongues, said tongues being provided with inclined or double-wedgeshaped faces, in combination with clamps engaging said inclined or wedge-shaped faces, substantially as set forth.

2. A railroad-rail joint consisting of rails having overlapping tongues, the flanges of said tongues gradually increasing in width from the ends of the tongues to the center thereof, in combination with clamps engaging the inclined edges of the flanges, substantially as set forth.

3. A railroad'rail joint consisting of rails I having overlapping tongues, the flanges of said tongues gradually widening from the ends to the center thereof, in combination with clamps engaging the inclined edges of the flanges and straps or rods for holding the clamps in position, substantially as set forth.

4:. Clamps of the character described, in combination with a railroad-rail joint with in terchangeablyshaped ends having interlocking tongues and grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony \vhereofl' havchereunto set my hand.

JAMES llf. TBICE.

\Vitnesses:

J. ROBERTS FOULKE, J AS. DURAND LAQUETL. 

